The verdict in three sentences
The card terminal (POS) costs a monthly rental (15,000 to 40,000 FCFA) plus 1.5 to 2.5% per card transaction. The Wave QR costs no rental and about 1% per transaction. The POS is only justified if more than 25% of your customers pay by international card.
The real cost of each solution
A POS reassures card customers but stacks rental, commissions and sometimes transaction fees. The mobile-money QR removes hardware and lowers the commission.
| Item (2026 estimate) | Card terminal | Wave QR |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rental | 15,000 to 40,000 FCFA | 0 FCFA |
| Commission per transaction | 1.5 to 2.5% | ~1% |
| Hardware to buy | Often yes | None (sticker) |
| Funds settlement | D+1 to D+3 | Instant on wallet |
| Maintenance / breakdown | Merchant's burden | None |
| International cards | Yes | No (mobile money) |
The switch calculation on 4M FCFA/month
The higher the mobile-money share, the more QR wins. Here is the annual saving by customer mix, at a constant revenue of 4M FCFA/month.
| Payment mix | Annual POS cost | Annual Wave QR cost | Saving/year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90% mobile money / 10% card | ~1,200,000 FCFA | ~480,000 FCFA | ~720,000 FCFA |
| 75% mobile / 25% card | ~1,150,000 FCFA | mixed recommended | ~600,000 FCFA |
| 50% mobile / 50% card | ~1,100,000 FCFA | both needed | low |
| 100% mobile money | ~1,320,000 FCFA | ~480,000 FCFA | ~840,000 to 900,000 FCFA |
Mini case study
Mamadou, who runs a mini-market in Thiès, does 4M FCFA/month. With his POS: 25,000 FCFA/month rental + 2% commission ≈ 80,000 + 25,000 = 105,000 FCFA/month, i.e. 1,260,000 FCFA/year. Since 88% of his customers already pay by Wave/OM, he keeps the POS for rare cards but moves most to Wave QR (~1%). New cost: ~45,000 FCFA/month. Saving: about 720,000 FCFA/year, an employee's salary.
FAQ
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Does the Wave QR fully replace a POS?
Not if a notable share of customers pay by international Visa/Mastercard. Under 25% cards, QR is enough; above that, keep a POS alongside.
Is there a hidden cost to the Wave QR?
The main one is the merchant commission (~1%) and, depending on use, withdrawal fees to cash out the wallet. No rental or hardware maintenance.
Does the POS offer a cash-flow advantage?
Quite the opposite: the POS often settles at D+1/D+3, while the mobile-money wallet credits instantly, improving cash flow.
How long to recoup the switch?
From the first month: removing 25,000 to 40,000 FCFA of rental and cutting the commission produces an immediate saving, with no hardware investment.
Do you need both for an upscale shop?
Yes, a shop with tourist or expat customers keeps a POS for cards and adds the QR for the mobile-money majority.
Let's talk about your project. We audit your customer mix and set up the cheapest QR + POS combination for your shop. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
